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Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Northeast

Cumberland County saw the biggest improvement in the Northeast: its unemployment rate changed −2.2 points over the year, against −0.6 points for the typical large county.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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Key facts

  • #1 Cumberland County, NJ: −2.2 points
  • #2 Salem County, NJ: −2.1 points
  • #3 Essex County, NJ: −2.0 points
  • 97 counties ranked in the Northeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: −0.6 points across the typical large county.

  1. 1Cumberland County NJ−2.2 points
  2. 2Salem County NJ−2.1 points
  3. 3Essex County NJ−2.0 points
  4. 4Atlantic County NJ−2.0 points
  5. 5Cape May County NJ−1.9 points
  6. 6Camden County NJ−1.8 points
  7. 7Passaic County NJ−1.8 points
  8. 8Mercer County NJ−1.7 points
  9. 9Gloucester County NJ−1.7 points
  10. 10Union County NJ−1.7 points

What stands out

  • Salem County reaches #2 on a sample of 30,511 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Essex County is the largest market in the top ten, with 427,804 people in the labor force behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

A county where unemployment is falling fastest is a labor market that is improving, whatever its starting point.

How to use it

Look at these counties when you want a market moving in the right direction. Compare with the lowest-unemployment list to see where improvement and a tight market overlap.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Cumberland County NJ

    −2.2 points

    Unemployment now
    6.1%
    A year ago
    8.3%
    People in the labor force
    65,548

    Based on 65,548 people in the labor force.

    Cumberland County job market

  2. 2

    Salem County NJ

    −2.1 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    7.2%
    People in the labor force
    30,511

    Based on 30,511 people in the labor force.

    Salem County job market

  3. 3

    Essex County NJ

    −2.0 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    7.1%
    People in the labor force
    427,804

    Based on 427,804 people in the labor force.

    Essex County job market

  4. 4

    Atlantic County NJ

    −2.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.8%
    A year ago
    6.8%
    People in the labor force
    138,374

    Based on 138,374 people in the labor force.

    Atlantic County job market

  5. 5

    Cape May County NJ

    −1.9 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    7.0%
    People in the labor force
    44,446

    Based on 44,446 people in the labor force.

    Cape May County job market

  6. 6

    Camden County NJ

    −1.8 points

    Unemployment now
    4.5%
    A year ago
    6.3%
    People in the labor force
    279,361

    Based on 279,361 people in the labor force.

    Camden County job market

  7. 7

    Passaic County NJ

    −1.8 points

    Unemployment now
    4.7%
    A year ago
    6.5%
    People in the labor force
    275,879

    Based on 275,879 people in the labor force.

    Passaic County job market

  8. 8

    Mercer County NJ

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.9%
    People in the labor force
    197,461

    Based on 197,461 people in the labor force.

    Mercer County job market

  9. 9

    Gloucester County NJ

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    5.6%
    People in the labor force
    168,405

    Based on 168,405 people in the labor force.

    Gloucester County job market

  10. 10

    Union County NJ

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    4.4%
    A year ago
    6.1%
    People in the labor force
    306,181

    Based on 306,181 people in the labor force.

    Union County job market

  11. 11

    Burlington County NJ

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.4%
    People in the labor force
    252,531

    Based on 252,531 people in the labor force.

    Burlington County job market

  12. 12

    Middlesex County NJ

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.8%
    People in the labor force
    458,606

    Based on 458,606 people in the labor force.

    Middlesex County job market

  13. 13

    Ocean County NJ

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    5.6%
    People in the labor force
    291,859

    Based on 291,859 people in the labor force.

    Ocean County job market

  14. 14

    Hudson County NJ

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.3%
    People in the labor force
    427,066

    Based on 427,066 people in the labor force.

    Hudson County job market

  15. 15

    Lehigh County PA

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.5%
    A year ago
    5.0%
    People in the labor force
    202,076

    Based on 202,076 people in the labor force.

    Lehigh County job market

  16. 16

    Sussex County NJ

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.7%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    79,575

    Based on 79,575 people in the labor force.

    Sussex County job market

  17. 17

    Indiana County PA

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.1%
    A year ago
    4.6%
    People in the labor force
    36,424

    Based on 36,424 people in the labor force.

    Indiana County job market

  18. 18

    Hunterdon County NJ

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.3%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    68,579

    Based on 68,579 people in the labor force.

    Hunterdon County job market

  19. 19

    Warren County NJ

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    61,186

    Based on 61,186 people in the labor force.

    Warren County job market

  20. 20

    Mercer County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.3%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    46,061

    Based on 46,061 people in the labor force.

    Mercer County job market

  21. 21

    Northumberland County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.1%
    A year ago
    4.5%
    People in the labor force
    44,046

    Based on 44,046 people in the labor force.

    Northumberland County job market

  22. 22

    Carbon County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.4%
    A year ago
    4.8%
    People in the labor force
    33,161

    Based on 33,161 people in the labor force.

    Carbon County job market

  23. 23

    Monmouth County NJ

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.7%
    A year ago
    5.1%
    People in the labor force
    336,779

    Based on 336,779 people in the labor force.

    Monmouth County job market

  24. 24

    Dauphin County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.2%
    A year ago
    4.6%
    People in the labor force
    150,236

    Based on 150,236 people in the labor force.

    Dauphin County job market

  25. 25

    Cambria County PA

    −1.3 points

    Unemployment now
    3.4%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    55,495

    Based on 55,495 people in the labor force.

    Cambria County job market

Full ranking

All 97 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Cumberland County NJ−2.2 points65,548
2Salem County NJ−2.1 points30,511
3Essex County NJ−2.0 points427,804
4Atlantic County NJ−2.0 points138,374
5Cape May County NJ−1.9 points44,446
6Camden County NJ−1.8 points279,361
7Passaic County NJ−1.8 points275,879
8Mercer County NJ−1.7 points197,461
9Gloucester County NJ−1.7 points168,405
10Union County NJ−1.7 points306,181
11Burlington County NJ−1.6 points252,531
12Middlesex County NJ−1.6 points458,606
13Ocean County NJ−1.6 points291,859
14Hudson County NJ−1.5 points427,066
15Lehigh County PA−1.5 points202,076
16Sussex County NJ−1.5 points79,575
17Indiana County PA−1.5 points36,424
18Hunterdon County NJ−1.4 points68,579
19Warren County NJ−1.4 points61,186
20Mercer County PA−1.4 points46,061
21Northumberland County PA−1.4 points44,046
22Carbon County PA−1.4 points33,161
23Monmouth County NJ−1.4 points336,779
24Dauphin County PA−1.4 points150,236
25Cambria County PA−1.3 points55,495
26Lycoming County PA−1.3 points52,951
27Mifflin County PA−1.3 points24,037
28Philadelphia County PA−1.3 points802,034
29Bergen County NJ−1.3 points540,988
30Morris County NJ−1.3 points276,643
31Somerset County NJ−1.3 points195,616
32Pike County PA−1.3 points29,091
33Delaware County PA−1.2 points310,040
34Northampton County PA−1.2 points171,493
35Luzerne County PA−1.2 points163,567
36Erie County PA−1.2 points127,408
37Lebanon County PA−1.2 points75,238
38Fayette County PA−1.2 points53,754
39Cheshire County NH−1.2 points40,060
40Columbia County PA−1.2 points31,738
41Sullivan County NH−1.2 points21,939
42Venango County PA−1.2 points20,355
43Merrimack County NH−1.2 points82,494
44Strafford County NH−1.2 points77,884
45Carroll County NH−1.2 points26,290
46Berks County PA−1.2 points222,340
47Lackawanna County PA−1.2 points105,925
48Monroe County PA−1.2 points84,313
49Schuylkill County PA−1.2 points67,087
50Grafton County NH−1.2 points49,742
51Crawford County PA−1.2 points37,094
52Armstrong County PA−1.2 points30,054
53Beaver County PA−1.1 points82,812
54Bucks County PA−1.1 points354,013
55Rockingham County NH−1.1 points187,440
56Westmoreland County PA−1.1 points175,059
57Franklin County PA−1.1 points79,406
58Blair County PA−1.1 points57,451
59Somerset County PA−1.1 points32,232
60Bradford County PA−1.1 points26,546
61Belknap County NH−1.1 points33,358
62York County PA−1.1 points241,936
63Hillsborough County NH−1.1 points238,420
64Washington County PA−1.1 points105,259
65Lawrence County PA−1.1 points39,021
66Clearfield County PA−1.1 points35,158
67Perry County PA−1.1 points23,444
68Bedford County PA−1.1 points23,144
69Allegheny County PA−1.0 points651,551
70Montgomery County PA−1.0 points482,355
71Lancaster County PA−1.0 points297,770
72Cumberland County PA−1.0 points142,162
73Wayne County PA−1.0 points22,371
74Bronx County NY−0.9 points616,496
75Providence County RI−0.9 points350,743
76Butler County PA−0.9 points101,300
77Kent County RI−0.9 points94,170
78Adams County PA−0.9 points51,927
79Kings County NY−0.8 points1,332,703
80Chester County PA−0.8 points307,859
81Centre County PA−0.8 points78,787
82Newport County RI−0.7 points41,772
83Queens County NY−0.6 points1,204,625
84New York County NY−0.6 points963,288
85Richmond County NY−0.6 points245,927
86Washington County RI−0.6 points68,079
87Bristol County RI−0.5 points26,320
88Hampshire County MA−0.4 points84,724
89Middlesex County MA−0.3 points932,913
90Worcester County MA−0.3 points470,233
91Suffolk County MA−0.3 points465,838
92Essex County MA−0.2 points439,969
93Bristol County MA−0.2 points313,254
94Plymouth County MA−0.2 points292,998
95Norfolk County MA−0.2 points415,556
96Berkshire County MA−0.1 points64,387
97Chittenden County VT−0.1 points96,362

How this ranking works

A county's score is the change in its unemployment rate over twelve months, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The biggest fall ranks first.

Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force whose rate fell are ranked. Month-to-month local estimates can be revised, so small differences are not meaningful.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (not seasonally adjusted). Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which county ranks first: counties where unemployment fell the most in the northeast?
Cumberland County saw the biggest improvement in the Northeast: its unemployment rate changed −2.2 points over the year, against −0.6 points for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
97 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 97 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is the change in its unemployment rate over twelve months, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The biggest fall ranks first. Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force whose rate fell are ranked. Month-to-month local estimates can be revised, so small differences are not meaningful.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Northeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-northeast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-northeast">Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Northeast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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